The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-01-01
Gen. Logan's Romantic Marriage.

Gen. L0gan's marriage was quite
romantic, and the story is not gener-
ally known. Mrs. Logan's father
was Capt. Cunningham, descended
from an Irish family, and II South
erner by birth and education. He
was born in Lincoln. Tennessee, but
reared in A labama. and when of age
went to Illinois. He brought some
slaves with him, but, although slav-
cry was still allowed in the Terrific.
ries. he decided to liberate them, and
did so. From Illinois he migrated
to Missouri and entered the employ
of George 2. Darris, at that time a
great overland merchant, with head
quarters in st. Louis. While in Pc
tersburg, Boone county, he met and
married lady Of French descent,
Miss FOuntaine, and il was on Mis-.
souri, soil that their first child, Mary,
was born. She was only year old
| when the Captain returned TO Illinois
on account of his fathers filling
health, and settled in Williamson
county. When the Mexican war
bro Ike out. her father, who had serv.
ed in the Black Hawk war when a
mere hoy, received commission rs
Captain of company of the First
Illinois Volunteers and went to the
! front. In another company of the
same regiment there happened to be
a young Lieutenant by the name of
John A. Logan. who had enlisted
from Jackson county. His father had
served in the same Legislature with
the Captain, and naturally strong
friendship sprang up between the
two. In fact, it may be said that the
marriage which afterward took place
between the Lieutenant and the Cap
tain's eldest daughter was arranged
during this campaign, since the Cap
tain about this time received from
the latter, still mere child, the first
letter she had ever written, and,
showing it to the Lieutenant, laugh.
ingly told him he might have her.
Alter the war the Captain caught the
gold fever and Was one of the forty
miners who elnigrated to the Pacific
coast. Upon his return Pierce had
been installed as President, and the
Captain received the appointment of
Land Register at ShaWneetown,
Illinois.
In the meantime young Logan had
been making good progress at the
bar, and the Captains oldest Iaugh-
ter had been acquiring an education
at the famous convent school of st.
Vincent's Academy, at Morganfield,
Kentucky, where she passed three
years. AT that time it was one of
the few academies for young ladies
in the West and a branch of the
famous institution at Nezareth. Ken.
lucky. She graduated in July, 1855,
and on her return entered her fathers
Office and acted as his secretary, this
being her first appearance In public
affairs. At this time Gen. Logan was
Prosecuting Attorney for the district.
and lived in Benton, Franklin c0un-
ty. 1t was on going over to Shaw.
neetown to attend court that he had
the pleasure of meeting Miss Cum
ningham for the first time. He told
her that he had called for the purpose
of claiming the fuIfillment of her
fathers promise, and prospcred so
well in his courtship that in the fol.
lowing November they were married
she young girl of II and he rising
lawyer of 80 years.
Logan was at that time Prescott.
ing Attorney of the district, and in
those days the circuit was composed
of sixteen counties. He lived in Ben
ton, and there the young couple he.
gan their married life. His rise was
rapid and brilliant. and in 1858. after
distinguished service in the Legisa-
ture, he was elected to Congress as a
Douglas Democrat. Mrs. Logan has
often described that famous cam
paign, during which Stephen A,
Douglas spoke at Benton aud was
entertained at Gen. T.o ans house.